Filmmaker Danny Boyle has opened up about his foray into artificial intelligence, confirming the use of generative AI in his new movie, 'Ink.' Speaking to Vanity Fair from the Telluride Film Festival, Boyle revealed that roughly 30 seconds of the film's runtime feature AI-generated content.

"There’s about 30 seconds of it in our movie where we animate a couple of old photographs," Boyle explained, addressing speculation that arose after the film's premiere. He also humorously added, "Oh, and there’s some mice. It’s very good for animals, and we had some mice that run around The Sun newsroom."

Indeed, some viewers had taken to social media to ponder whether AI was behind the reanimation of historical images, specifically those of the Kray brothers and former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Boyle's comments from Telluride seem to confirm these observations.

Beyond its practical application in 'Ink,' Boyle also shared his broader perspective on AI in the film industry. He emphasized that his personal opinion is less crucial than that of younger generations. "It doesn't really matter what I think about AI. It matters what 20-year-olds think about it. Is the honest truth," he stated. While acknowledging AI as a "very useful tool in many ways," Boyle underscored the importance of ethical use, particularly regarding compensation: "provided you use it respectfully and provided you pay actors if you’re going to replace them with some kind of AI embodiment."

Earlier in the week, at the Venice press conference for 'Ink,' Boyle voiced concerns about AI's potential impact on various sectors, including journalism. He questioned the integrity of AI-generated news: "The danger with the tech giants and their AI is that they will be able to replace journalism. They’ll be able to have an AI journalist who’s much more efficient, cheaper, etcetera, etcetera, and will that AI journalist speak truth to the power that created it?"

'Ink' delves into the dramatic rise of the notorious UK tabloid, The Sun, during the 1970s. The story follows Larry Lamb, portrayed by Jack O’Connell, after he was recruited from the Daily Mirror in 1969 by a burgeoning media mogul, Rupert Murdoch. The film also stars Guy Pearce and Claire Foy.

A co-production between Studiocanal and Netflix, 'Ink' has garnered largely positive reviews since its Venice debut, currently holding an 85% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is slated for a December theatrical release, followed by its streaming premiere on Netflix in January.